Images posted to Google Inc.'s (GOOG) picture sharing service Picasa show a Google-branded Sony smartphone, which is reportedly dubbed the "Nexus X". The images were posted by someone called "Mutul Yeter" whose name offers no Google search hits (other than about the posted images) -- suggesting the name is a pseudonym.

Such things -- as the Xperia Blog who first covered the possible leak, notes -- can be faked. However, the device looks reasonably plausible in the mid-resolution images posted.

The Sony "Nexus X" [Image Source: Mutul Yeter/Picasa]

It appears to be loaded with Android 4.1 "Jelly Bean", and pack the typical 'Droid fare -- a front and rear camera, plus microUSB.

So far Google has worked with a number of OEMs on "Nexus" branded smartphones, but not Sony. The first in the series -- the Nexus One (Jan. 2010) -- was built by HTC Corp. (TPE:2498). It was succeeded by the Nexus S (Dec. 2010) and Galaxy Nexus (Nov. 2011) from Samsung Electronics Comp., Ltd. (KSC:005930).